Compact product package

ABSTRACT

A packaging arrangement including a first carton having a first set of sidewalls arranged to define a first compartment for retaining at least one product, and a first endwall having one portion overlying one end of the first compartment and another portion laterally displaced therefrom; and a second carton having a second set of sidewalls arranged to define a second compartment for retaining another product, and a second endwall having one portion overlying one end of the second compartment and another portion laterally displaced therefrom. The first and second cartons are nested together with the first compartment disposed laterally adjacent to the second compartment, and an inner surface of another portion of the first endwall overlies the second compartment, and an inner surface of the another portion of the second endwall overlies the first compartment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The majority of products are manufactured or assembled in one location and then shipped to a given retail outlet. To enhance presentation at the retail level, many products are packaged in consumer friendly packaging prior to shipment and then displayed in the packages at a retail outlet. The cost of product transportation can be reduced by minimizing the volume occupied by the products. Consequently, the size of display packages is typically minimized thereby undesirably reducing the external area available for printed material describing a product and its use. This problem is accentuated for products with shapes not easily grouped in compact stacks.

The object of this invention, therefore, is to provide for certain products packages which can be compactly grouped while providing increased external surfaces for accommodating retained product information.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is a packaging arrangement including a first carton having a first set of sidewalls arranged to define a trapezoidally shaped first compartment for retaining at least one product, and a first endwall having one portion overlying one end of the first compartment and another portion laterally displaced therefrom; and a second carton having a second set of sidewalls arranged to define a second compartment for retaining another product, and a second endwall having one portion overlying one end of the second compartment and another portion laterally displaced therefrom. The first and second cartons are nested together with the first compartment disposed laterally adjacent to the second compartment, and an inner surface of another portion of the first endwall overlies the second compartment, and an inner surface of the another portion of the second endwall overlies the first compartment. The packaging arrangement reduces volume while increasing display area.

According to one feature of the invention, the outer surfaces of the first and second endwalls retain graphic material describing the products retained in the first and second compartments. The graphic material apprises consumers of the package's content.

According to another feature of the invention, each of the first and second compartments are trapezoidally shaped; and each of the first and second sets of sidewalls includes a pair of parallel, spaced apart sidewalls of substantially different length, a third sidewall perpendicular to the pair and joining first ends of the pair and a fourth sidewall joining second ends of the pair. This feature provides an efficient package for accommodating a guitar.

According to yet other features of the invention, the longer sidewall of the pair of the first set is aligned with the shorter sidewall of the pair of the second set and the longer sidewall of the pair of the second set is aligned with the shorter sidewall of the pair of the first set; each of the first and second endwalls is rectangular; the fourth sidewalls of the first and second sets of sidewalls are longitudinally engaged and of equal length; and the first carton is a mirror image of the second carton. These features achieve desired objects of the packaging.

According to additional features, the assembly package includes a first base member having a third endwall overlying an opposite end of the first compartment, and first mating sidewalls engaging the first set of sidewalls and separable therefrom, and a second base member having a fourth sidewall overlying an opposite end of the second compartment and second mating sidewalls engaging the second set of sidewalls and separable therefrom. These features minimize volumes of nesting boxes especially suited for housing products such as guitars.

According to an additional feature, the assembly package includes first legs projecting outwardly from an edge of the first endwall adjacent to the longer of the first set of parallel sidewalls and in a direction substantially perpendicular thereto, and second legs projecting outwardly from an edge of the second endwall adjacent to the longer of the second set of parallel sidewalls and in a direction substantially perpendicular thereto; and wherein the first and second legs are adapted to support, respectively, the first and second endwalls in vertical positions.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects and features of the invention will become more apparent upon a perusal of the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a packaging assembly according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of one packaging carton shown in the assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of another packaging carton shown in the assembly of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating relative carton movement establishing the assembly shown in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A compact assembly 11 of first and second cartons 12, 13 for shipping and displaying products is illustrated in FIG. 1. The first carton 12 includes a first set of sidewalls 16, 17, 18 and 19 (FIG. 2) arranged to define a trapezoidally shaped first compartment 21 for retaining one or more products to be shipped and displayed for sale. Overlying one end of the first compartment 21 is one portion 22 of a first rectangular endwall 23 while another endwall portion 24 of the endwall 23 extends laterally from the first compartment 21. Included in the first set of sidewalls are a spaced apart parallel pair 16 and 19 with the sidewall 19 being substantially longer than the sidewall 16. The third sidewall 21 is perpendicular to the sidewalls 16, 19 and joins first ends thereof while the fourth sidewall 17 joins second ends of the pair 16, 19.

Covering an end of the first compartment 21 opposite to the first endwall 23 is a first base member 27 having a third endwall 28 and first mating sidewalls 31, 32, 33 and 34. Retained by the first base member 27 is a guitar 37 which is a preferred product for shipping and display. The first compartment 21 is closed by engaging inner surfaces of the first set of sidewalls 16-19 with outer surfaces of the first mating sidewalls 31-34 and the third endwall 28 overlying the first compartment 21 as shown in FIG. 1.

The second carton 13 of the assembly 11 is illustrated in FIG. 3. Similar to the first carton 12, the second carton 13 includes a second set of sidewalls 46, 47, 48 and 49 arranged to define a trapezoidally shaped second compartment 51 for retaining one or more products to be shipped and displayed for sale. Overlying one end of the second compartment 51 is one portion 52 of a second rectangular endwall 53 while another endwall portion 54 of the endwall 53 extends laterally from the first compartment 51. Included in the second set of sidewalls are a spaced apart parallel pair 46 and 49 with the sidewall 49 again being substantially longer than the sidewall 46. The third sidewall 48 is perpendicular to the sidewalls 46, 49 and joins first ends thereof while the fourth sidewall 47 joins second ends of the pair 46, 49.

Covering an end of the second compartment 51 opposite to the second endwall 53 is a second base member 57 having a fourth endwall 58 and second mating sidewalls 61, 62, 63 and 64. Retained by the second base member 57 is a guitar 66. The second compartment 51 is closed by engaging inner surfaces of the second set of sidewalls 46-49 with outer surfaces of the second mating sidewalls 61-64 and the fourth sidewall 58 overlying the second compartment 51 as shown in FIG. 1.

The first and second cartons 12, 13 are engaged in a compact arrangement by moving the first compartment 21 into a position laterally displaced from the second compartment 51 and into contact with the endwall portion 54 of the second carton 13 as shown in FIG. 4. After engagement, the longer sidewall 19 of the parallel pair in the first set of sidewalls is aligned with the shorter sidewall 46 of the second set and the longer sidewall 49 of the parallel pair in the second set is aligned with the shorter sidewall 16 of the parallel pair in the first set. Also, the fourth sidewall 17 of the first set of sidewalls is longitudinally engaged with the fourth sidewall 47 of the second set of sidewalls. This compact arrangement is made possible because of the second carton 13 being a mirror image of the first carton 12.

A pair of tab legs 61, 62 project outwardly from an edge of the first endwall 23 adjacent to the longer sidewall 19 of the first set parallel pair. Similarly, a pair of tab legs 63, 64 project outwardly from an edge of the second endwall 53 adjacent to the longer sidewall 49 of the second set parallel pair. After shipment of the assembly 11 to a retail outlet, the cartons 12, 13 can be separated and displayed with the legs 61-64 providing stabilization in desired upright positions. In those positions graphic descriptive material 65 on the outer surfaces of the endwalls 23 and 53 are properly oriented for attention of shoppers. The surface area available for such information is increased by the endwall portions 24 and 54 which project laterally from the product retaining first and second compartments 21, 51.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is to be understood, therefore, that the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically described. 

1. Apparatus for shipping and displaying plural products and comprising: a first carton comprising a first set of sidewalls arranged to define a first compartment for retaining at least one product, and a first endwall having one portion overlying one end of said first compartment and another portion laterally displaced from said first compartment; and a second carton comprising a second set of sidewalls arranged to define a second compartment for retaining another product, and a second endwall having one portion overlying one end of said second compartment and another portion laterally displaced from said second compartment; and wherein said first and second cartons are nested together with said first compartment disposed laterally adjacent to said second compartment, an inner surface of said another portion of said first endwall overlies said second compartment, and an inner surface said another portion of said second endwall overlies said first compartment.
 2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein outer surfaces of said first and second endwalls retain graphic material describing the products retained in said first and second compartments.
 3. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein each of said first and second compartments are trapezoidally shaped; and each of said first and second sets of sidewalls includes a pair of parallel, spaced apart sidewalls of substantially different length, a third sidewall perpendicular to said pair and joining first ends of said pair thereof, and a fourth sidewall joining second ends of said pair.
 4. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the longer sidewall of said pair of said first set is aligned with the shorter sidewall of said pair of said second set and the longer sidewall of said pair of said second set is aligned with the shorter sidewall of said pair of said first set.
 5. An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein each of said first and second endwalls is rectangular.
 6. An apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said fourth sidewalls of said first and second sets of sidewalls are longitudinally engaged and of equal length.
 7. An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said first carton is a mirror image of said second carton.
 8. An apparatus according to claim 1 including a first base member having a third endwall overlying an opposite end of said first compartment, and first mating sidewalls engaging said first set of sidewalls and separable therefrom, and a second base member having a fourth sidewall overlying an opposite end of said second compartment and second mating sidewalls engaging said second set of sidewalls and separable therefrom.
 9. An apparatus according to claim 8 wherein outer surfaces of said first and second endwalls retain graphic material descriptions of the products retained in said first and second compartments.
 10. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein each of said first and second compartments are trapezoidally shaped; and each of said first and second sets of side walls includes a pair of parallel, spaced apart sidewalls of substantially different length, a third sidewall perpendicular to said pair and joining first ends of said pair thereof, and a fourth sidewall joining second ends of said pair.
 11. An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the longer sidewall of said pair of said first set is aligned with the shorter sidewall of said pair of said second set and the longer sidewall of said pair of said second set is aligned with the shorter sidewall of said pair of said first set.
 12. An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein each of said first and second endwalls is rectangular.
 13. An apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said fourth sidewalls of said first and second sets of sidewalls are longitudinally engaged and of equal length.
 14. An apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said first carton is a mirror image of said second carton.
 15. An apparatus according to claim 3 including first leg means projecting outwardly from and substantially parallel to an edge of said first endwall adjacent to the longer of said first set of parallel sidewalls and secured leg means projecting outwardly and substantially parallel to an edge of said second endwall adjacent to the longer of said second set of parallel sidewalls; and wherein said first and second leg means are adapted to support, respectively, said first and second cartons in standing positions.
 16. An apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the longer sidewall of said pair of said first set is aligned with the shorter sidewall of said pair of said second set and the longer sidewall of second pair of said second set is aligned with the shorter sidewall of said pair of said first set.
 17. An apparatus according to claim 16 wherein each of said first and second endwalls is rectangular.
 18. An apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said fourth sidewalls of said first and second sets of sidewalls are longitudinally engaged and of equal length.
 19. An apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said first carton is a mirror image of said second carton.
 20. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein each of said first and second cartons retains a guitar. 